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16ft Dash 'n' Splash Rally Pro Water Slide
From £1.25 per week
- Was
- Was £50.00
- Now
- Now £25.00
- Save £25.00
- In Stock
7 reviews
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Get ready for some serious fun with the Dash n Splash 16 Foot Rally Pro Water Slide!
You get 2 surf rider inflatable and the race is on to see who can slide to the end first – perfect for having fun with the family out in the sunshine.
The Dash n Splash Rally Pro Water Slide comes with 6 stakes to secure to your lawn, ensuring perfect racing conditions whenever the sun begins to shine.
Please note: Only for domestic use. Not suitable for children under 3 years. To be used under the direct supervision of an adult.
Plum Paradiso Plastic Colombus Water and Sandpit
From £0.97 per week
- Price
- £74.00
- In Stock
0 review
- Delivery
Children will have hours of inventive play time with this Paradiso Colombus water and Sandpit. Encouraging outdoor play and exercise, this sand pit will let your children's creativity run wild, making shapes in the sand and paddling their feet. This Paradiso Sandpit is made from high quality plastic, consisting of 6 colourful pieces and a ground sheet.
The Colombus has rounded corners for added safety and includes 6 separate water compartments. Easy to assembly and also includes a waterproof cover for sand or storage in the garden for sand/ water toys. For added versatility, just add play balls and you have an instant ball pit to keep your young kids amused for hours. Product can be stacked to reduce storage space required when product isn't in use in the garden.
Features and Benefits:
- Traditional garden fun for hours of inventive sand and water play
- Bright and vibrant colours Made from high quality plastic with rounded corners for added safety
- Cover and ground sheets are provided
- Just add balls to convert into a ball pit
- Easy assembly
- Stack system for storage
- Recommended age from 18 months
- Sand/water and play balls are not included
Shaded Play Pool
From £0.80 per week
- Price
- £16.00
- In Stock
0 review
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Shaded play pool is ideal for children to enjoy the fun of a warm sunny day splashing about in the pool, whilst at the same time having a barrier to protect them from the direct heat of the sun! Comes with inflatable sun shade and a soft interior floor, providing added comfort for little ones! Repair patch included.
Designed water capacity: 26-litres (7 gallons). Styles may vary.
Age from 2 years.
Learn to Swim Set
From £1.25 per week
- Price
- £25.00
- In Stock
0 review
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
The Learn to Swim set is a set of 5 inflatable swimming aids designed to introduce kids to water and support them as they develop their swimming ability. Parents and teachers can use these aids as part of a 3 step guide to help kids enjoy the water safely as they learn to swim, until they are proficient enough to take to the water without the use of inflatables.
Help babies discover their love for the water with the inflatable baby seat (step A). Using the swim safe vest and the swim safe ring (step B), you can then help them progress to learning how to float in the water. Finally once they have mastered the first 2 steps and are feeling confident, they can don the swim safe armbands and learn to paddle for themselves; finishing up by using the swim safe kick board to help them learn how to propel themselves in the water (step C). An all round useful introduction set for babies and toddlers to swimming.
Plum Build and Splash Wooded Sand and Water Table
From £0.72 per week
- Price
- £55.00
- In Stock
0 review
- Delivery
This sand and water table will provide hours of fun for your children and their friends, making shapes in the sand and splashing in the water! It comes with a liner suitable for both sand and water play, making it extremely versatile. The premium FSCA certified timber ensures this sand box blends into any garden design and the table has rounded corners for added safety. This multi-purpose item from Plum has a small footprint, making it an ideal sand and water table for compact gardens or patios.
Features and Benefits:
- Provides hours of fun for your young children and their friends
- Made from premium FSC certified timber with rounded corners for added safety
- Comes with a liner suitable for both sand and water play, making it extremely versatile
- Multi-purpose item with a small footprint ideal for compact gardens
- 12 month manufacturer's warranty against wood rot and insect damage
- Supplied flat packed and pre-drilled with easy assembly instructions
- Easy to assemble in 1 hour with 1 adult
- Recommended age from 18 months
- Sand not included
- Weight of sand required: 15-25kg
- Assembled size: L 0.8, W 0.7, H 0.54m
- Internal dimensions: L 0.496, W 0.496, H 0.085m
- Always cover the sand pit when not in use
- Regularly check sand for impurities and sharp objects
- Use washed play sand suitable for use in children's sand pits
- Adult supervision recommended at all times
- Adult assembly required
- Maximum user weight 50kg
- Outdoor use only
- Only for domestic use
Little Tikes Builders Bay Sand and Water Table
From £1.60 per week
- Price
- £160.00
- In Stock
5 reviews
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Large interactive crane, water motion controls, accessories include truck, gate and bridge. Complete with multi-purpose lids for both protection and play. Age from 2 years. Assembled size 136x112x55cm.
This large Octopus, with multi-coloured tentacles is easily connected to a hosepipe, the water then spurts out of the 45 cm long tentacles, which move with the pressure of the water. Dimensions: H 14, W 20, D 22 cm. Tentacle length: 45 cm.
Age from 3 years.
Plum Giant Wooden Sand Pit. Assembled size: L1.77 x W1.77 x H0.23m. Warning. For domestic use only.
With a reservoir with a pump and two locks, a steep water ride, a hand crank for lifting as well as three different boats and a seaplane for extra fun.
Age from 3 years.
Plum Store-it Wooden Sand Pit
From £0.97 per week
- Was
- Was £79.00
- Now
- Now £74.00
- Save £5.00
- In Stock
0 reviewPlum Store-it Wooden Sand Pit. Warning. For domestic use only.
- Delivery
The Big Waterplay Beach Party has an integrated carrying handle which makes it easy to transport and assemble anywhere. This play system with construction elements and many different accessories combines all the things that kids adore: water, vehicles and building blocks. Age from 3 years.
Aqua Force Aqua Blaster
From £0.95 per week
- Price
- £19.00
- In Stock
0 review
- Delivery
- Next day delivery available
Become the ultimate water warrior with Aqua Force from Wham-O. Aqua Force water weapons give you the firepower you need to force you foes into soaking wet submission. Blast your friends into soaking wet submission with this powerful water balloon blaster. Includes 50 water balloons. Contains: 1 x Aqua Force Blaster, 50 x Balloons and a Target. Age from 8 years.


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The Go staff is looking at the best and brightest of this summer's pop culture. Batman makes an appearance. As do Crosby, Stills & Nash.
A lot of big video game titles are coming out this year, from sports to shooters to fighting games. In the order they'll be released, these are our most anticipated games for the rest of the year.
Note: We cheated a bit, as a few of the games we mention won't be released until fall. But relax, go with the flow. It's summer, man.
Lollipop Chainsaw — If they gave out awards for over-the-top games, this one might sweep the category. During a zombie outbreak at a high school, you play a buxom cheerleader with two weapons: a chainsaw and the severed head of your zombie-infected boyfriend. (June 12)
London 2012 — The official game for this year's summer Olympics should be a blast. You may even be able to relive your U.S. Swim Trials experience in Omaha by playing as Michael Phelps. (June 26)
The Amazing Spider-Man — While this game, based on the upcoming film, looks fun, we mostly want to play it because a download allows you to play as the godfather of superhero comics, Stan Lee. Pre-order the game at Amazon.com and you get a character skin that changes Spider-Man into his real-life creator. You also get special Stan Lee missions where you have to collect pages from his latest comic scripts. ( June 26 )
NCAA Football 13 — Once again, this should prove to be another exciting year of simulating the college football experience. Will the Huskers win a national championship in 2012? We suppose it's possible in real life, but much more likely in the video game. (July 10)
Madden NFL 13 — More football, but this is the pros. Good thing the game updates rosters because with all of the changes recently (Manning/Tebow, anyone?) and certainly more to come before the season, it would be a chore to do it manually. (Aug. 28)
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron — This game looks like a lot of robot-transforming and fighting fun. It even looks better than the films, but we don't think that's particularly hard to pull off. (Aug. 28)
Dead or Alive 5 — Fighting games are a blast, especially if you get together with a few friends and beat up on each other. This game will probably be the best fighting game to come out this year. (Sept. 25)
Assassin's Creed III — Taking place during the Revolutionary War, the third installment of the franchise has caused a huge stir with its recently released gameplay footage. We can't wait to take down some redcoats. (Oct. 30)
Halo 4 — The studio that created this alien off-world shooter gave it up, but we're still pretty excited to play the fourth installment. (Nov. 6)
Call of Duty: Black Ops II — The first Black Ops took place in the Vietnam era, but this one jumps into the future. The Call of Duty series has always done a great job of recreating the past and present so a look into the future will be fun. (Nov. 13)

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Plastic Weaving CrateOriginal Price:$4.99 Current Price: $1.99A great way to learn, you can practice your basket weaving skills with this fun crate kit. Using the materials in this kit you can make a storage crate that has an endless number of uses around your home. The finished crate is 8" square and 7" deep, so you can use it to store all your issues of Boy's Life magazines or for homework supplies. Just about anything that needs to be organized can find a new home in this blue and yellow crate you made yourself. Instructions included. Learn More


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Bighorn Reloaded
I just got back from fishing the Bighorn River in Montana. WOW! What a great time. After floating the river for three days, I was not ready to come home.
The most productive way to fish the Bighorn is to float it, because this
allows the angler to get out to fish each productive run. There are a
lot of interesting characteristics to the Bighorn River which I believe
translate into a broad range of fishing options for the angler. In many
ways I find it more attractive than Gray Reef.
We did find a wide variety of fish ranging in size from eight inches
up to twenty-two inches. Large numbers of fish in the eight to twelve
inch range were encountered in the upper three miles- a good sign for
the river. Finding fish of this size means that the river is still having
a healthy spawn and a very natural fish cycle. This fish cycle was a concern
because of the drought and how much it was impacted.
If you're planning on a trip to the Bighorn, make sure that you have the following flies:
If you have questions just e-mail me or give me a call at the shop - 303-494-1375 or 866-994-1375.


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Upstate Tickets
Sorry! Looks like there aren't any events.
But it's not the end of the world! Click Track above and you'll be the first to know when Upstate tickets are available.
Past Tour Dates for Upstate
Upstate Tour Dates 2013
date city state venue 07/19/2013 Upland CA The Wire 05/16/2013 Rochester NY Tala Vera
Upstate Tour Dates 2012
date city state venue 12/05/2012 Rochester NY The Club at Water Street 11/23/2012 Rochester NY Montage Music Hall


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Considering the price of this bedding, I expected an okay set. However, it is really nice! I bought the Queen set and the comforter is oversized. I live in N. Wisconsin where it is already cold and the blanket is the right warmth. The decor pillows are really cute, and I love all that comes with this set. It looks great together. The black is actually black and not faded, and the gray is a nice gray. It is not white, more of a cream color which I prefer. I would definately recommend this set to a friend!
Its so hard to find a nice "cotton" comforter set, but I found this for my new king size bed and its perfect! Wonderfully soft and large and fluffy ! It really is just like the picture in looks which is really nice but I was most pleased with how great and breathable it is not too heavy not too light and most important to me its NOT SLIPPERY! (like some poly and faux satin can be itchy and slippery,,eck)AWESOME BUY!!
I looked for a damask print for my Master bedroom. I was so excited to find this Prague set. It was not just the plain boring black and white, but had a combination of corrdinating patterns of black, creme, and gray tones in the Damask print. The quality is superb, the sheets are smooth and comfy. I can happily recommend this set to friends.
Happy with the quantity and value for the dollar. Wish I would have liked the colors and the print quality more.
Got this comforter set in today and I absolutely love it! Fast shipping and excellent value for the price. The colors and pattern match fabric I already have and will now be able to use for matching curtains. I didn't think I'd ever come across anything that would match. Also love the fact that it's cotton and therefore more "kitty friendly" than fabrics that will snag easily. Thanks Ovestock!
Love the pattern, great fit, bold black pattern with nice pillow shams, throw pillows and bed skirt. Wish it had the curtains to match!
This comforter set is great quality and beautiful in person. The sheets definitely are not as soft as a higher thread count, but otherwise a great value for what you get!!
I bought this set for a guest room that is painted a gorgeous red color. This set looks stunning in my red guest room ! The quality is great, and the sheets that come with it are really nice, and so soft. I love it.
I just received this bedding and I love it! Super soft and very classy.
I bought this set a year and a half ago and have waited to write a review to see how the product holds up. It still looks amazing today! The material is soft and the sheets are still the favorite set even after tons of washes. I also love the quality because I hate spending money on something that will just fall apart after normal use. This set maintains beautifully! Even after a year of lounging on the decorative pillows they are still as fluffy as the day i got them. The comforter is heavy - which is good in cold weather. I recently got a dog and the bedding has stood up to the dog 'pawing' at the fabric. A really great product that holds up over time.
Usually leaves our warehouse in 1-2 business days. *
Items must be returned in new or unused condition and contain all original materials included with the shipment. More details
FINAL SALE EXCLUSION: Items marked as FINAL SALE are not returnable unless the problem you experience is the result of our error.
Our standard shipping method is ground shipping. We also offer expedited shipping for most items. Your final shipping cost and estimated delivery timeframe will be available at checkout.
Standard shipping details
Expedited shipping details
* For your safety, some orders go through our loss prevention department. If we select your order for this process, we will immediately notify you that there may be up to a 3-day delay on your order.
** Most Oversize orders are delivered within 1-4 weeks. Some orders may take 6 weeks to be delivered.


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← Back to all events
9:00 AM Annual Sturgis Rally
Organization: Sturgis Area Chamber of Commerce
Date: 08/07/2014 update info
Time: 9:00:00 AM - 12:00:00 AM
Event Cost: varies
Venue: various locations around town in Sturgis,SD
Contact: Sturgis Rally
Phone: (605) 580-5496
Website: www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com
Event Details:
Sturgis Bike Week s expected to be a very spectacular event as always. More events, vendors and fun times to be had by all. Black Hills hosts theAnnual Sturgis Rally also know as Bike Week every year. It is the worlds largest Biker Rally of its kind. You haven't seen fun til you have been here!
Future Dates are as follows:
- August 3-9, 2015 (75th Anniversary)
- August 8-14, 2016
- Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
- Stock Show and Rodeo
- Rushmore Independence Day
- Deadwood Jam
- The Black Hills Pow Wow
- Lean Horse Marathons
- Custer Park Buffalo Roundup
- Crazy Horse Volksmarch
- Black Hills Corvette Classic
- Black Hills Bluegrass Festival
- Deadwood Oktoberfest
- Deadwood St. Patrick's Day
- Spearfish Winter Art Show
- Quilter's Guild Show
- Black Hills Playhouse
- Black Hills Symphony Orchestra
- Wild Bill's Death Reenactment


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Rated 4.3 out of 5 by 105 reviewers.
Rated 3.0 out of 5.0 by MikeB_uk Rooms poorly sound proofed from external noise Stayed in suite that had bedroom on the city/road side. This road is regularly used by locals for some form of drag racing sport using fast cars with blown exhausts throughout the night. Very noisy! Unfortunately for us the hotel room windows are of a poor and old design which let's in external noise readily. This gave me a very poor and disturbed nights rest over our 3 night stay. The hotel needs to invest in new sealed windows that will exclude external noise. 26 February 2014
Rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by Wombat27 Giant bed, great views I booked this on a weekend deal so had wonderful value with breakfast included. My room looked over the city with views of the Emirates Palace and the sea. The bed was huge, room very clean and well maintained, and A/C was working well. The bathroom was very large, with separate cubicle shower with two different options for water (power shower and rain-type), a reasonably sized bath and separate room for toilet and bidet. Breakfast was extremely good, huge choice including pork bacon. Only thing I didn't like was the tea, which was black designer tea, would have preferred normal old PG Tips or even Liptons. I tried asking for English Breakfast Tea but they didn't have it, also no milk in the room at all, only Coffeemate. Pool/beach area is being renovated with lots of building work but was told will be finished in a month or so. 24 February 2014
Rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by AlBiz Great service, excellent staff, great facilities, outstanding breakfast. Altogether a very positive experience - we were extremely well looked after, and the personal attention and service we received was more like I would have expected in a small boutique hotel rather than a large chain. Hotel offers really good facilities as well, plus the rooms are well-designed and totally functional (in the positive sense) with virtually no little niggles or irritants. 20 February 2014
Rated 3.0 out of 5.0 by GrumpySteve Choice of the floor and room the 17th floor just below the Club from 0700 in the morning is noisy and impossible to sleep. Air conditioning, despite my efforts, decided to remain at 24° 15 February 2014
Rated 4.0 out of 5.0 by Mark! A good hotel The Intercontinental remains a landmark in fast-changing Abu Dhabi. I think that it was the first 5 star hotel way back in the 80s. It remains a nice hotel, even as it is dwarfed by taller more opulent properties. Renovation of the rooms means they're good. I've stayed twice for a week at a time. Both rooms were identical standard rooms with a king bed The bathroom is large and well fitted - although the showers always let water pool up outside the stall. The free internet was fine. The bedroom is comfortable and nicely sized with perfectly fine storage and closets. Here are things that need work. A bedside electronic system is supposed to control heat and lights; it's very complicated, so I can't tell if it works correctly. I couldn't get the room to warm up to a temperature more to my liking. I couldn't figure out if the curtains were to be pulled or controlled through some mechanism. Both of my rooms faced the main drag -- and were subject to sports cars drag racing (or at least roaring) at all hours. The gym is dated and hard to get to. The breakfast buffet is excellent offering a great variety of tasty treats from the middle east and around the world; its staff is friendly and attentive. The conference facilities are quite fabulous. I will be staying at the Intercontinental for another week later this month, and I'm perfectly happy about that. 14 February 2014
Rated 5.0 out of 5.0 by Kora An excellent hotel! I was for the second time in Intercontinental within 4 months and I will definitely choose it again every time I'll fly to Abu Dhabi, because it's just fantastic! Classic and elegance meet Middle East in a very charming atmosphere. The comfortable spacious room, the service, the cleanliness everywhere, the lovely and very friendly hotel staff in every section -especially the managers of the restaurant on the third floor-, the great time at the pool, they all made our stay memorable. The hotel is placed in the near of the promenade, so we could take long walks at the shore every evening after the dinner. I have really only positive words regarding this hotel and I can only recommend it from the bottom of my heart. Once again, thank you for the wonderful time! 11 February 2014
Rated 4.0 out of 5.0 by Norma1980 My Stay Everyone was very helpful and the service was great, 05 February 2014
Rated 4.0 out of 5.0 by ymka good and not good We appreciate the high class service provided and well trained staff. Everything was OK except the fact that as we are in Islamic country and we are muslims we MUST not serve alcohol and ham products as these are prohibited, and disobeying ALLAH's commands will not be on your favor believe me. I advice also not to allow smoking in the lobby as this was really annoying to us and many of non-smokers. Also wearign loose clothes has to be prohibited in the open areas. thanks 01 February 2014
Abu Dhabi
- Bainouna Street
- Abu Dhabi
- United Arab Emirates
- Front Desk +971-2-6666888
An InterContinental City Hotel |Add to Favourites | Email Hotel | Follow us:
In the Heart of the City
The finest city addresses come courtesy of InterContinental hotels. Vibrant, cosmopolitan destinations offer a sanctuary of luxury, from front-row seats over Times Square, New York to stunning spa pools overlooking Hong Kong Harbour. Prestigious city addresses include Sydney Harbour, Dubai, London Park Lane, Mayfair and Paris. Find your premium location in the heart of the city.
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Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
Distance 37 KM / 22.99 MI SOUTH to Hotel
Taxi Charge (one way): د.إ.130.00 (AED)
Time by taxi: 25 minutes
Train Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Ferry Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Distance 165 KM / 102.53 MI SOUTH to Hotel
Taxi Charge (one way): د.إ.450.00 (AED)
Time by taxi: 120 minutes
Train Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Ferry Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Take Sheikh Zayed Road from Dubai into Abu Dhabi - In Abu Dhabi get on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street direct to the hotel
Distance 37 KM / 22.99 MI SOUTH to Hotel
Taxi Charge (one way): د.إ.130.00 (AED)
Time by taxi: 25 minutes
Train Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Ferry Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Distance 165 KM / 102.53 MI SOUTH to Hotel
Taxi Charge (one way): د.إ.450.00 (AED)
Time by taxi: 120 minutes
Train Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Ferry Charge (one way): د.إ.0.00 (AED)
Take Sheikh Zayed Road from Dubai into Abu Dhabi - In Abu Dhabi get on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street direct to the hotel
- Parking Available/142 Spaces
- At the hotel main entrance, guest can benefit from 142 parking spaces with no additional charge.
- Valet Parking Available
- Controlled Access Gates to Parking
- Parking Area Equipped with Lights
Hotel is located 23 miles (37 KM) from Abu Dhabi Internatonal Airport. Take Airport Road west bound. The hotel is sitting on the only hill in Abu Dhabi over looking a beautiful Marina and a sandy beach.
Languages spoken by staff
Arabic, German, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Russian, Tagalog, Chinese
Pet Policy
Contact hotel for details


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Sean Taylor aka Crazylegs - Birthday Daggeration [Unsigned Hype]
Description: Elite reports "An introduction to the video introduces an original song,"Bed-Time Story," sung and played on the piano by Sean Taylor aka Crazylegs,"Di Authentic One." A sultry, sexy, R&B song which meshes sounds of smooth singing serenades, a zest of hardcore dancehall deejaying, and a blend of beautiful harmon-mute trumpet jazz lines. Definitely coming different and unique with this one. A display of true musical talent and what should be heard on the airwaves and seen in our general media. If you like what you're listening to and if you like what you're seeing, I adhere you to contact this young man ASAP; truly someone special. Thank you, be blessed, and stay SOOOO FAARREEEESSSHH! :-)"
Total Views : 19,960
Video Added : 2009-08-27
Video Code:


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Fri, Apr 04, 2014
By: Christopher Cadelago
Rep. Ami Bera, D-Elk Grove, two years ago promised not to take a congressional pension until key entitlement programs were secured for years into the future.
In addition to underscoring his support for reinforcing Medicare and Social Security, Bera's pledge also helped draw a contrast in his grudge match with Dan Lungren, who is entitled to taxpayer-funded retirement benefits from service in state and federal office.
Guest Opinion By: Rep. Ami Bera
As a son, a father and a husband, I have spent my life surrounded by strong women. My mother worked as a public school teacher for many years, educating future generations of Americans. My wife Janine, a practicing physician, has dedicated her life to making our community healthier and happier. And, thanks to the perseverance of past generations of women, my teenage daughter Sydra has the opportunity to pursue her passions and dreams.
Tue, Feb 25, 2014
By: Jonathan Miller
When California Congressman Ami Bera met New York Rep. Christopher Gibson at a dinner last April, they began a conversation about how the two of them -- a physician and a retired Army colonel, a Democrat and a Republican -- might work together in Congress to advance the country's interests.
It didn't take them long to come up with an idea.
Fri, Feb 21, 2014
By the Editorial Board, February 19, 2014
It's a safe bet that more than a few rank-and-file Democrats in Congress are thinking it, but Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove is willing to say it publicly: President Barack Obama is hurting his own cause by not being more inclusive.
Bera points to two issues of major concern to Californians – health care and water – and he's absolutely right.
Tue, Feb 18, 2014
Wed, Jan 29, 2014
Tue, Dec 24, 2013
Published: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 9:44 AM PST
U.S. Rep. Dr. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) said he approached his first year in office knowing that Democrats and Republicans had to work together.
He said Congress had not approved a budget in four years, and the leaders of both chambers were not – and still don't – get along.
Wed, Nov 06, 2013
By: Don Chaddock, Managing Editor
FOLSOM, CA - In a sit-down interview at the Folsom Telegraph, Democratic freshman Rep. Ami Bera spoke frankly about the dysfunction he found in the nation's capital, his accomplishments following his first 10 months in office and what he hopes legislators have learned from the government shutdown.
What did you and your colleagues learn from the government shutdown?
Mon, Sep 30, 2013
By Ami Bera, MD
On Tuesday, if the United States Congress fails to pass a temporary funding bill called a continuing resolution, the federal government will shut down. While essential services like air traffic control, and homeland security will continue to function, many employees, including our military serving overseas, will report to work, but not receive pay. Many federal services will also cease: our National Parks will close, visa and passport applications will come to a halt, and the Centers for Disease Control will close. A shutdown will affect millions of Americans, and could also impact our slowly recovering economy.
How did we get to this point of impasse and what can Congress do to begin functioning in some sort of regular process?


text: The Miami Dade College Sharks wrapped up the season with an overall record of 38-10, a conference record of 19-5, and walked away winning the 2013 Southern Conference Champion Title. Five players were named 2013 FCSAA All-State Team (First Team: Victor Caratini and Omar Garcia; and Second Team: Jose Gomez, Steven Negron and Ivan Palez). Twelve players were selected to the All-Conference Team (First Team: Jose Gomez, Omar Garcia, Victor Caratini, Steven Negron, Danny De La Calle, Ivan Perez and Kyle Carter; Second Team: Mario Amaral, Robert Llera, Kyle Carter(DH), Perez and Baranik). Victor Caratini was named Southern Conference Player of the Year and Danny Price was named 2013 Southern Conference Coach of the Year.


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SBN Staff
First State Bank: How local banks offer better service and drive your hometown economy
A growing business may think a national or large regional bank would best serve their business needs, but in reality, it is easy to get lost in the shuffle. As big banks tend to cater to big business, community banks offer many advantages as a dedicated business partner.
A local bank is knowledgeable about the community in which a business operates and can make quicker decisions from a local perspective instead of relying on decision-makers in another city or state. Business owners many times are able to talk directly to the head of lending or the president about their business.
"When considering where to bank, look no further than around the corner. Community banks only thrive when their customers and communities do the same, so taking care of their customers and looking out for the best interest of their community is inherent in the way community banks conduct business," says Gene Lovell, CEO and president of First State Bank.
Smart Business spoke with Lovell about why community banks might be the best place for your corporate and personal banking.
Why are community banks important?
A community bank understands firsthand that businesses are the backbone of a local economy. If a community bank is to succeed, local businesses must do the same. Local bankers take time to listen and understand a business owner's vision because small businesses are the bank's mainstay.
Large banks are not tethered to the places they operate. Too many times, the deposits that national banks collect from local residents and institutions leave the state to be invested in distant communities, countries, or on Wall Street, far removed from local account holders' interests.
By banking with a community bank, money is put to work in the surrounding area in the form of loans to residents and business owners. In addition, by banking locally, consumers and businesses ultimately invest in their hometown by stimulating the economy and creating growth.
How else are community banks different from national banks?
The ownership of the bank — and board of directors — is generally made up of individuals who live and work in the communities they serve. They are business leaders who are deeply ingrained in the community and are more likely to serve on other local boards, attend community functions and know area business leaders.
Their local knowledge of the market area provides a significant advantage for the bank and its customers. Because they are so involved locally, they can spot needs and talk to clients before they even walk into the bank. At the same time, business owners have better access to management. Bank decision-makers make personal visits and really get to know their customers. Staff doesn't rotate to other locations or departments; when you walk in, you see the same people with whom you have already established a relationship.
Community banks also tend to heavily participate in U.S. Small Business Administration loan programs.
How else do community banks help small businesses?
The largest 20 banks account for 57 percent of all bank assets, but only 18 percent of their commercial loans went to small businesses, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. While small and midsize banks, which together account for 22 percent of all bank assets, lent 56 and 33 percent, respectively, to small businesses. In addition, smaller institutions continued to lend to small businesses at a steady rate during the recession, when big banks abandoned the market.
What makes a community bank a better place to do business?
The majority of community banks remain among the most financially sound in the country, because of conservative management practices. Where the federal government was quick to bail out 'too big to fail' banks during the economic crisis, most community banks were left to fend for themselves and came through the crisis as stronger banks. Most community banks were loyal and continued to lend to customers when many big banks did not. The community bank can be a safe haven from impersonal bank practices. ●
Eugene Lovell is president and CEO at First State Bank. Reach him at (586) 775-5000 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth: How the JOBS Act makes it easier for companies to raise money
The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS), passed in early 2012, mandates that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopt rules to help start-ups and small businesses raise capital. Because of this, companies can advertise, market and publicly disclose that they are fundraising. The change also allows companies to raise up to $1 million from a large number of "nonaccredited," or non-high net worth investors.
Smart Business spoke with Mark L. Skaist, shareholder and co-chair, Corporate and Securities Practice, at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth about what this could mean for businesses.
Why does it matter that companies can advertise that they're fundraising?
Companies need to either register their securities offering with the SEC or find an exemption from registration. Registration is often prohibitively expensive for start-ups, so most emerging companies rely on an exemption from registration, the most common of which is Rule 506 under Regulation D. This permits sales of an unlimited dollar amount of securities to an unlimited number of accredited investors and up to 35 nonaccredited investors. However, in order to rely on this exemption, companies had been prohibited from offering or selling securities through any form of general solicitation or general advertisements.
By allowing companies to advertise their securities offerings to the general public, companies should have a bigger pool from which to solicit investments.
There are, however, two conditions companies must meet in order to use general solicitation and advertisement and sell securities under Rule 506. Namely, all purchasers in the offering must be accredited, which for natural persons generally means net worth in excess of $1 million, or annual income of at least $200,000. Also, the company must take 'reasonable steps' to verify that the purchasers are accredited.
How are companies supposed to verify that a purchaser is accredited?
The SEC has said that companies need to make an objective determination in the context of the given facts and circumstances. It has come out with a nonexclusive list of verification methods that can be considered 'reasonable steps.' The specific methods and types of information the SEC considers sufficient include written representations of investors combined with two years of federal tax returns; bank statements combined with credit reports; and written confirmation from a broker, attorney, investment adviser or accountant.
How are the proposed rules regarding crowdfunding supposed to work?
These proposed rules provide that companies may sell up to $1 million of securities during any 12-month period to accredited and unaccredited investors. They also limit annual crowdfunding investments by investors with annual income or net worth below $100,000 to the greater of $2,000 or 5 percent of the investor's annual income or net worth. For investors with annual income or net worth in excess of $100,000, annual crowdfunding investments cannot exceed 10 percent of their annual income or net worth.
There are also proposed initial and annual filing requirements by the company doing crowdfunding financing, which may include financial statements, a business plan and tax returns. Companies can use intermediaries, such as brokers and funding portals, and may not advertise the offering other than to provide a notice directing potential investors to the intermediary.
Based on the proposed rules, which require that companies raising between $100,000 and $500,000 through crowdfunding provide reviewed financials, and companies raising more than $500,000 provide audited financials, it's likely that the accounting fees alone are going to be a significant roadblock to many small companies relying on this exemption.
While it seems steps have been taken toward making it easier for start-ups and emerging companies to raise money, time will tell whether they have any real impact. In the meantime, businesses are popping up that are looking to get involved with these types of offerings, either by verifying that investors are accredited or by setting up funding portals for crowdfunding. ●
Mark L. Skaist is a shareholder and co-chair of the Corporate and Securities Practice at Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth. Reach him at (949) 725-4117 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
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Weaver: How forensic accountants and the public sector combat fraud
The vast amount of public funds and programs in federal, state and local governments can make it difficult to keep track of expenditures. Far too many people seize this opportunity to commit fraud, which in turn halts intended improvements or services.
For example, the Houston-based Dubuis Health System and Southern Crescent Hospital for Specialty Care Inc., in Riverdale, Ga., were accused of overcharging Medicare. The hospitals allegedly hospitalized patients longer than necessary to obtain larger reimbursements from the government. They agreed to repay the U.S. government $8 million to resolve various False Claims Act (FCA) allegations dating back to 2003.
"When fraud involving public funds occurs, the amount of goods or services those funds can purchase diminishes, and taxpayer dollars are wasted. Constituents see declining value. Public officials and stakeholders face questions regarding the use of tax dollars or other people's money," says Trish Fritsche, a senior manager in Forensics and Litigation Services at Weaver.
Smart Business spoke with Fritsche about how public sector officials and other stakeholders can respond to fraud schemes with the help of forensic accountants.
What are the most prevalent fraud methods used in the public sector?
Common ways to divert public funds from intended use are asset misappropriation, corruption and financial statement fraud. Although internal controls can be put in place to prevent fraud, in reality, fraud is potentially as unlimited as the human ingenuity to circumvent those controls.
How should organizations respond?
Once an incident of suspected fraud is identified via a hotline or other source, questions to ask include:
- Should the investigation be handled internally or externally?
- Who are the stakeholders?
- What are the resources needed?
- Should the entity self-report fraud?
At this time, attorneys and forensic accountants may need to become involved. Forensic accountants possess the skills necessary to appropriately respond in a crisis. They understand how to discover and develop information that can be used by governmental entities, boards and others with fiduciary responsibility. Forensic accountants also provide consulting services or expert testimony. They work closely with law enforcement and others to properly address the fraudulent conduct.
What laws can assist with addressing fraudulent conduct?
The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 (FERA), enacted just after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, seeks to reduce fraud involving federal money and property. The act expanded various civil and criminal fraud statutes to include mortgage businesses, as well as entities associated with recovery act funding.
Liability under the FCA was originally limited to individuals or entities that directly or indirectly induced payment by the federal government. FERA, however, expanded that. Now, the FCA not only applies to direct recipients of government funds, but also to any contractor or other entity receiving funds. It explicitly prohibits the retention of government overpayments to individuals or entities.
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) was enacted in 1970 to combat organized-crime activities. It has since been used to prosecute other offenses, including fraud cases involving government funds. Under RICO, anyone who has committed any two crimes from a list of 27 federal and eight state crimes —such as bribery, embezzlement and money laundering — within a 10-year period can be charged with racketeering. RICO allows a U.S. Attorney to temporarily seize a defendant's assets and prevent the transfer of potentially forfeitable property. In addition, private parties are allowed to file civil lawsuits under certain circumstances.
Each fraudulent act involving public sector funds not only decreases the funds available, it also causes constituents to lose faith in officials. Effectively combatting fraud enables entities to do the greatest good for the greatest number, while establishing trust among all stakeholders. ●
Trish Fritsche, CPA, CFF, CITP, CGMA, is a senior manager in Forensics and Litigation Services at Weaver. Reach her at (800) 332-7952 or email@example.com.
Insights Accounting is brought to you by Weaver
HealthLink: How innovations are improving self-funded health insurance
Approximately 60 percent of the U.S. commercial population is self-funded today, and as health care premiums continue to rise under fully insured plans, self-funding looks to become even more attractive. However, many employers don't realize how much self-funded health insurance has evolved with strategies and plans designed to help control costs.
"Self-funding does not look the same as it did just a few years ago," says Mark Haegele, director of sales and account management at HealthLink.
Smart Business spoke with Haegele about how self-funding fits into health care today.
What's driving the increase in self-funded health insurance?
Health insurance premiums are increasing at an unsustainable rate. Employees pay 89 percent more for family health care premiums, compared to a decade ago. In 2013, premiums only rose 4 percent, but that's more than twice the rate of wages.
Self-funded premiums typically aren't as costly. A recent Department of Labor report found that in 2011 fully insured premiums increased by $808, while self-funded premiums only increased by $248.
In response, 60 percent of companies self-insured their health benefit programs in 2011, up from 49 percent in 2000, according to a Kaiser/HRET survey. This increase can be partially attributed to more self-insured employers with fewer than 1,000 people in their health plan programs. In just two years, small and midsize employers that self-insure nearly doubled, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers data from 2010.
How has self-funded insurance changed?
Fifteen to 20 years ago, employers were afraid to trust self-funding, even though they knew it brought certain advantages, such as avoiding premium taxes, risk charges and state mandates. A self-funded environment gives employers more plan flexibility, depending on the disease prevalence or demographics of their population, as well as more access to data and lower fixed costs. But a piecemeal approach to health insurance that went against the insurance market culture was a foreign concept.
Today, there is less fear and higher adoption rates. At the same time, historical best practices still exist — avoiding taxes, risk charges and state mandates with lower fixed costs — as well as additional cost savings where self-funded plans avoid rules and regulations of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
What do self-funded plans look like today?
There is a market culture shift in the self-funded environment with more flexible plan designs. Member data is now transformed into actionable intelligence. Plans target specific high-dollar categories, such as high-dollar claimants, high-cost imaging, cancer and dialysis treatment, and pharmacy. With more transparency, employers can influence purchasing decisions by aligning incentives.
High-dollar categories like pharmacy are an area where vendor selection is key. Self-funded plans today have more administrator and vendor integration to better control these costs. A majority of employers spend around 16 percent of their total health care budget on pharmacy.
In addition, self-funded plans can be designed with custom networks, based on the cost of care. Through data analytics, plan sponsors can identify preferred facilities, procedures and/or services, and then use the plan design to cover a higher percentage of a preferred procedure or service.
Another strategy is using domestic centers of excellence. With this type of contract, providers offer preferred pricing due to exclusivity and volume. Employers can achieve savings on the unit cost. There's also a performance component to eliminate waste — the provider gets a bonus for avoiding surgeries.
With pay-for-performance, a budget is set with expected costs, and the health care providers and employer agree on how to measure performance, looking at readmission rates, member pharmacy compliance, minimum levels of care, etc. Then, providers receive a percentage of the savings realized, as an incentive.
Self-funded plans are even utilizing alternative delivery models, such as telemedicine, on-site or near-site clinics and concierge health services.
Self-funded insurance may not be what you thought, so take the time to see if today's plans would work for your business. ●
Mark Haegele is director of sales and account management at HealthLink. Reach him at (314) 753-2100 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Health Care is brought to you by HealthLink
Novack and Macey: How to keep money paid to you by a customer that goes bankrupt
In 2012, more than 40,000 businesses filed for federal bankruptcy protection. When this happens, the bankrupt entity or the bankruptcy trustee will sometimes seek to recover certain payments previously made to the bankrupt entity's creditors so that those funds can be redistributed in accordance with the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. One type of payment that the bankrupt entity or the trustee may seek to recover is called a preference.
Smart Business spoke with Julie Johnston-Ahlen, of counsel at Novack and Macey LLP, about how to deal with being sued for preferential payments.
What is a preference?
A preference is a transfer or payment on an existing debt. It's made by a soon-to-be bankrupt debtor to a creditor within the 90-day period preceding the bankruptcy filing.
Why can't you keep the money that the bankrupt entity paid you?
The purpose of the law on preferential transfers is to try to make the bankruptcy process as fair as possible for all of the bankrupt entity's creditors. When a business has insufficient cash flow, it will often pay certain creditors in full and not pay others, depending on which goods and services are most critical to the soon-to-be bankrupt entity's business. In an effort to maximize the fair distribution of the bankrupt entity's assets, creditors that receive preferential payments are often forced to return the money to the bankruptcy estate for redistribution, subject to the supervision of the court.
Do you have to return the money?
It depends. The bankrupt entity or trustee has the burden of proof. So, it must be demonstrated that there was a transfer or payment of property of the debtor, to or for the benefit of a creditor, on account of antecedent debt. This must occur within 90 days of bankruptcy and enable the creditor to receive more than it would in a Chapter 7 liquidation. In addition, the transfer or payment must have been made when the bankrupt entity was insolvent.
Even if these elements can be established, many creditors have viable defenses that may enable them to keep some or all of the money they received. These defenses are fact specific, and in practice, can be difficult to assert without the assistance of an attorney familiar with defending preference actions.
What should you do if you are sued for a preference?
In most cases, you have two options: you can pay back the full amount of the payment, or you can fight the claim. If you fight it, you have a good chance of keeping some portion of the payment, particularly if you can demonstrate that you have one or more viable defenses. Further, even if you don't assert specific defenses, but you make a reasonable offer of partial repayment, the bankrupt entity or trustee may be willing to settle for that lesser amount. This is particularly true in larger bankruptcy cases where the bankrupt entity may be pursing repayment from many creditors. It's often not feasible to fight with every creditor in an attempt to recover the full amount of each transfer.
Should you accept payments from a customer that might be having financial trouble?
Generally speaking, yes. There is nothing 'wrong' with accepting a payment that turns out to be a preference. You just might be forced to pay the money back later.
Creditors are almost always better off accepting payment from the future bankrupt entity, and then later dealing with any efforts it makes to recover the money. Again, it is often the case that the bankrupt entity or trustee will settle the claim for less than the full amount of the payment. The creditor keeps the rest, and it's almost always the case that it ends up recovering more money than if it had not received the payment. ●
Julie Johnston-Ahlen is of counsel at Novack and Macey LLP. Reach her at (312) 419-6900 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Legal Affairs is brought to you by Novack and Macey LLP
Cendrowski Corporate Advisors: How the PCAOB's proposed changes to auditors' reports will affect audits
On Aug. 13 the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) exposed proposed changes to the standard auditor's report that have the potential to impact the relationship between auditors and their clients.
"Practitioners, issuer entities and attorneys dealing with accountants' liability matters should all understand the implications of the proposed changes," says Barry Jay Epstein, Ph.D., CPA, CFF, a principal at Cendrowski Corporate Advisors LLC.
Smart Business spoke with Epstein about the changes and their impact.
What are the main proposed changes to the auditor's report?
The proposal most likely to generate controversy is that which requires identification of what the auditors determined to be 'critical audit matters.' This will mean that audit decisions that are currently not shared with the public, and most often are not even disclosed to the clients, will be set forth for financial statement users.
The second of the proposed requirements pertains to auditor independence, auditor tenure and an auditor's responsibility for information that is outside the financial statements but that is included in the financial statement filings. Auditors have long been required to at least 'read and consider' other information included in documents containing audited financial statements. This is in an effort to be assured that information, such as the management discussion and analysis section of Form 10-K, does not contradict or conflict with what the financial statements convey about the reporting entity's financial position or results of operations. This rule was imposed in reaction to observed situations where disparate implications could be drawn from the financial statements and footnotes, on the one hand, and narratives such as the 'chairman's letter,' which sometimes would present a rosier scenario than would seemingly be warranted by the 'hard data' in the financial statements, on the other hand.
The last of the three proposals amplifies slightly the already-extant options for the auditors to include certain explanatory paragraphs, addressing matters that, in the auditors' judgment, deserve to be emphasized. It also draws attention to the so-called 'going concern' language when there is substantial doubt that the reporting entity will be able to survive for a year beyond the balance sheet date. These changes, too, are not deemed likely to garner opposition from the profession, or to expand auditors' exposure to litigation.
What specifically would citing critical audit matters entail?
According to the PCAOB, critical audit matters are those matters addressed during the audit that:
- Involved the most difficult, subjective or complex auditor judgments.
- Posed the most difficulty to the auditors in obtaining sufficient appropriate evidence.
- Posed the most difficulty to the auditors in forming the opinion on the financial statements.
Most firms' internal audit guidance materials, such as manuals, programs and checklists, require that auditors plan their audits on the basis of financial statement assertions. Inherent and control risks must be considered for each of these assertions so that appropriate planned audit procedures can be selected or developed for each material assertion. Unless litigation later arises, these audit judgments are not generally shared with others, even with client personnel. Thus it is a radical departure to propose that critical audit matters be explicitly set forth in the auditors' report or be made public in any other manner.
Will the PCAOB proposal improve the efficacy of audits?
As the SEC, the PCAOB and assorted academic researchers have documented, the predominant reasons audit failures occur among public companies are:
- Exhibiting insufficient audit skepticism.
- Failure to obtain and correctly evaluate sufficient appropriate audit evidence.
- Inadequate planning, including risk assessments.
Audit failures rarely occur because the auditors misidentified critical areas deserving of audit attention. ●
Barry Jay Epstein, Ph.D., CPA, CFF, is a principal at Cendrowski Corporate Advisors LLC. Reach him at (866) 717-1607 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Accounting is brought to you by Cendrowski Corporate Advisors LLC
SummaCare: How the ACA affects underwriting and what it means for premium costs
The Jan. 1, 2014, implementation date of many insurance provisions and mandates under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is rapidly approaching, leaving employers to wonder just how the ACA is going to impact them and their benefit offering.
"As employers explore their health insurance options for 2014 and receive renewal rates from their carriers, some may see an increase that is higher than what they may have expected," says Marty Hauser, CEO of SummaCare, Inc. "This increase can be attributed to several factors mandated by the ACA. Employers should familiarize themselves with these changes so they understand the reason for premium costs and can decide what is best for their employees and business."
Smart Business spoke to Hauser about the changes in rating and underwriting under the ACA that will impact premium costs next year.
What do insurers use to determine rates for employers and how will that change?
Currently, rating is based on a number of factors including age, gender, health status and geographic location. Preexisting medical conditions and prescription use are also used to determine rates.
In 2014, rating is limited to age, smoking status and geographic location. Guaranteed issue also goes into effect, meaning that insurers cannot deny coverage because of a preexisting condition or rate-up for high-risk groups. Simply put, insurers can rate a group based on fewer factors than in previous years.
What else is changing in rating that will impact premiums?
Age bands, which are ranges of ages that determine premium amounts, are used to determine a group's rates, and today these are set at a 5-to-1 gender-based ratio.
Beginning in 2014, age bands can have a maximum ratio of 3-to-1, and these age bands are separated into three groupings: one single age band for children ages 0 through 20, one year age bands for adults ages 21 through 63, and one single age band for adults ages 64 and older.
It's important for employers to understand that under the ACA these ratios are uniformly mandated and regulated across the country for each carrier in order to level the playing field when it comes to group insurance premiums.
In addition to the change in rating factors and age bands, the ACA requires certain fees and taxes from health insurance companies based on the insurer's membership.
The first fee, called the patient centered outcomes research trust fund fee, went into effect last year at a cost of $1 per family member and increased to $2 per family member this year. The fee is collected to help fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, which will assist patients, clinicians, purchasers and policy-makers in making informed health decisions through research.
The second fee, called the transitional reinsurance program fee, is effective from 2014 through 2017 at a cost of $5.25 per family member per month or $63 per family member annually. This fee will be assessed against both insured and self-funded group health plans in order to stabilize premiums in the individual market for the first three years the marketplaces are in effect. These fees will be used to make payments to carriers that cover high-risk individuals in the individual market.
The third fee, called the marketplace user fee, goes into effect next year at a cost of 3.5 percent of policy costs. The marketplace user fee is meant to cover administrative costs of policies on the health insurance marketplace.
Finally, the annual health insurer industry fee begins next year at a cost of 2 to 2.5 percent, increasing to 3 to 4 percent in 2015. This fee is an excise tax to fund some of the provisions of the ACA.
In addition to the new fees, health plans are still subject to the 1.4 percent state premium tax.
How can employers offset some of the expense of their health insurance next year?
While there isn't much employers can do about the new rating factors or fees imposed by the ACA, they can help offset their premium costs by working with their insurer or independent insurance agent to make sure they are offering the right coverage for their employees and budget. ●
Marty Hauser is CEO of SummaCare, Inc. Reach him at email@example.com.
Insights Health Care is brought to you by SummaCare, Inc.
Woodbury University: How to combat rising university costs in an era of greater accountability
Recently, President Barack Obama outlined a plan to combat rising college costs by holding colleges and universities more accountable for results. The foundation of this plan is a ratings system that would provide students and families with information to help them select a school that offers the best value. Ultimately, Congress may tie the provision of federal student aid to a college's rankings.
What might the proposal mean for colleges and universities and the businesses that hire their graduates?
Smart Business spoke with Luis Ma. R. Calingo, Ph.D., president of Woodbury University, about the challenges of making college more affordable.
Will this proposal help colleges do a better job of turning out graduates who are prepared, for example, for a career in business?
The ultimate impact of the president's proposal is difficult to gauge. However, the debate must begin with understanding the role of higher education.
Colleges and universities exist for one reason: to produce graduates with highly valued degrees who have the knowledge and the character to serve and lead. President Obama's proposal enjoins colleges and universities to return to basics.
Doesn't it make sense to focus curriculum on courses that are most essential to a student's future career?
While that makes sense at the graduate level, there are benefits to a broader undergraduate liberal arts education, which is when students ought to be exploring their interests.
Businesspeople often say they can't understand why any undergraduate student would pursue a history major or take a philosophy course. But the students who study history or philosophy are those who end up in law school, just as those who pursue biology may end up in medical school. These are the courses that enrich the mind so that students become better business executives by being more critical in their thinking and more socially responsible. All of those things come from a liberal arts education, which is why many professional degree programs have a strong foundation in liberal education.
On a personal note, my daughter is majoring in theology and minoring in Arabic in preparation for a career in law and foreign service. She's a prime example of why it's important to debunk the myth that a liberal arts education does not contribute to preparation for a business or other professional career. The dichotomy between liberal education and professional preparation is an artificial one.
What can be done to reduce the spiraling costs of a college education?
How people respond to the cost question depends on their perspective.
If you are a parent or student who relies on federal Pell and/or state grants, any move that reduces public funding for higher education is of great concern. It also depends on where you live. A state university education in Ohio costs two or three times what it costs in California.
At Woodbury, what we do and what we spend is related to producing quality graduates. As with most universities, we spend 70 to 80 percent of our budget on personnel. We consistently apply a student-to-faculty ratio to determine new faculty hires. Any inflationary increases are generally tied to the Consumer Price Index. That's how we establish the bulk of our budget.
In fact, Woodbury is doing a business process improvement study of our student services and business processes to improve our operational efficiency. Other colleges, large or small, should do the same.
Of course, universities like Woodbury could reduce the numbers and kinds of courses offered to focus on those required for majors. That, however, would be counter to the argument that business and other professionals benefit from a grounding in liberal education. ●
Luis Ma. R. Calingo, Ph.D. is president of Woodbury University. Reach him at (818) 252-5101 or email@example.com.
For more of Calingo's perspective on the challenges facing colleges and universities today, visit his blog, Pursuing Excellence in Higher Education, which debuts in October.
Insights Executive Education is brought to you by Woodbury University
Additional blogs and articles with Luis Ma. R. Calingo:
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John Carroll University: Planning for profitable growth in an uncertain business environment
One of the toughest challenges facing managers is how to plan for profitable growth in an uncertain future.
Look back ten years at your customers and their needs, your employees, market structures, delivery systems, regulatory policies, social systems, the economy and technology, and it's clear how much things have changed. It's a safe bet that at least that much change can be expected in the next ten years, but what kind of change will occur?
Compounding the uncertainty is the necessity to keep managing current activities for efficiency and growth while planning for a future that may call for different activities altogether.
Smart Business spoke with Dr. Jaume Franquesa, visiting assistant professor of strategic management, and Dr. James Martin, associate dean and professor of marketing, both at the Boler School of Business at John Carroll University, about ways businesses can position themselves to take advantage of tomorrow's opportunities.
How do you get started?
Success in the long run is all about marshaling the right capabilities and resources and using them to create sustainable competitive advantage for the future. Start by identifying and assessing your current capabilities. Generally, there are two categories of capabilities that allow you to do both the day-to-day activities and plan for an uncertain future.
The first category is operational capabilities, which are the things you currently do that give you a competitive advantage in your current markets. That is, the skills, competencies and resources that you use to try to satisfy your current customers' needs better than competitors or at a lesser comparative cost, leading to higher profit.
The second category is dynamic capabilities, which are the capabilities that will help you to plan for the future. There are generally three types of dynamic capabilities.
The first is the ability to do environmental scanning and sensing. Being able to identify and track trends, and understand how they might be important to your business is a critical competency to develop.
The second dynamic capability is being able to turn the trends that you identified as important to your business into opportunities that can be pursued further. Innovative thinking is the cornerstone of this capability.
The third dynamic capability is being able to quickly re-configure your internal resource base in a way that creates a sustained competitive advantage for pursuing the opportunity. Understanding which resources are valuable, along with adaptive resilience and flexibility in your organization are key ingredients for this capability.
The stronger you are at each of the dynamic capabilities, the better your strategy and its implementation.
How can a manager foster adaptation and flexibility with regard to long term strategic direction?
As you think longer term, the uncertainties about investments in strategic direction can cause significant anxiety. This is really tough, but it is at the heart of building an organization for the future.
One useful approach to navigate this uncertainty is to apply 'real options' logic to investments for the future. Instead of making early choices under uncertainty and committing significant resources to a particular strategic direction, consider engaging in multiple directions that will keep several windows of opportunity open. In this way, you can delay commitment to any of them until more information is available and some of the uncertainty is resolved.
To do this, you must design the program of investment in each strategic initiative as a series of sequential experiments, with a continue/discontinue evaluation point at the end of each experiment. That is to say, at the end of the period you have the option of continuing to invest as planned, narrowing the scope of the project, or abandoning the project.
The goal is to create and manage a portfolio of alternative strategic options. You do this by investing in multiple stage-gated projects designed to seed the development of new capabilities or to explore potential new markets. The keys to the management of this portfolio of strategic options are:
- Project selection.
- Design of investment stages in a way that maximizes learning while minimizing the cost of each strategic option.
- Portfolio diversification.
The dynamic capabilities that you develop give you the foundation for creating this portfolio of
strategic options. ●
Dr. James Martin is an associate dean, professor of marketing at the Boler School of Business at John Carroll University. Reach him at email@example.com.
Dr. Jaume Franquesa is a visiting assistant professor of strategic management at the Boler School of Business at John Carroll University. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Executive Education is brought to you by John Carroll University
Weaver: What companies can do in the final months of 2013 to save on their tax bills
The government has increased tax rates and implemented other changes for 2013. However, companies may be able to employ tax-saving options — deductions, depreciation provisions or deferrals — prior to Dec. 31.
If companies review before year-end, they are better able to maximize potential savings, and it may even spur thoughts for future tax planning, says Sean Muller, partner-in-charge, Houston Tax and Strategic Business Services at Weaver.
Smart Business spoke with Muller about the opportunities to save on your 2013 taxes.
How can businesses utilize enhanced Section 179 deduction limits in 2013?
Enhanced Section 179 deduction limits were enacted for 2013, which allow companies to immediately deduct up to $500,000 of equipment purchases made, rather than depreciating over a number of years.
The deduction applies to 2013 equipment purchases of up to $2 million. The deduction is slowly phased out for taxpayers with $2.5 million or more in purchases. Section 179 deductions can be applied toward tangible property purchases, but real property doesn't qualify.
In 2014, the Section 179 limitation will decrease to $25,000. Companies that plan to make large capital expenditures in 2014 may wish to purchase in 2013 instead. The deduction can be used to reduce tax liability to zero, but it cannot put you in a net loss position.
How does bonus depreciation differ?
Taxpayers in some states may be able to utilize a 50 percent bonus depreciation rate for qualified property placed in service during 2013. Unlike the Section 179 deduction, bonus depreciation is not limited to net income and does not limit the deduction amount.
Bonus depreciation applies to new, original use U.S.-based property with a recovery period of 20 years or less.
The 50 percent bonus depreciation and Section 179 deduction can be used together.
What savings are available through like-kind exchanges?
Another tax-saving opportunity to consider is like-kind exchanges. IRS Code Section 1031 enables a taxpayer to defer capital gains tax if the property sale proceeds are reinvested in similar property within a relatively short time. The exchange may be a simultaneous swap of properties or a deferred exchange. With a deferred exchange, one property is disposed of and the proceeds are then used to buy one or more like-kind properties.
Section 1031 exchanges exclude inventory, stocks, bonds and partnership interests.
Who can take domestic production activity deductions (Section 199)?
In 2013, businesses with qualified domestic production activities may be able to receive a 9 percent tax deduction. Qualifying activities include the manufacture, production, growth or extraction of qualifying production property within the U.S., as well as real property construction, oil and gas drilling, and engineering and architectural services related to real property construction.
Generally, a taxpayer is allowed a deduction equal to the lesser of:
- Qualified production activity income (QPAI), which is a modified calculation of income related to qualifying production activities.
- Taxable income.
- 50 percent of the form W-2 wages deducted in arriving at QPAI.
The level of complexity in calculating the appropriate deduction depends on the nature and structure of the business.
What are other year-end tax strategies?
Companies also should consider potential residual tax-saving activities, such as:
- Deferring income to 2014 if cash flow and current income permit.
- Making additional charitable donations.
- Writing off and disposing of damaged or obsolete inventory to reduce carrying costs and garner tax deductions.
- Writing off bad debt that cannot be collected. Companies should keep supporting material like phone logs, correspondence, collection agency contracts, etc., to prove a reasonable effort was made to collect.
Invest the time now to plan for your 2013 taxes and reap the benefits later. ●
Sean Muller is partner-in-charge, Houston Tax and Strategic Business Services, at Weaver. Reach him at (832) 320-3293 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Insights Accounting is brought to you by Weaver


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Azure Is Helping Microsoft Catch Up In The Cloud
Developers want to build cool apps, but they also want an all-in-one development system in the cloud.
Developers want to build cool apps, but they also want an all-in-one development system in the cloud.
Unveiling Office for iPad is just one more iconoclastic stroke from Satya Nadella.
Everybody benefits as cloud computing providers slash prices in an intense race to the bottom.
Google slashes what it's charging companies for cloud computing, storage and database tools by up to 85%. You read it here first.
Adoption of Google's programming language is rapidly gaining on Java and others.
With the change, Dropbox business users will be able to access personal Dropbox accounts without logging in and out.
Google is turning cloud storage from an expensive function to a commodity feature.
Cloud-based tools can help small businesses make the leap—but you have to change your mindset, too.
Cloud services are booming in the age of mobile but market maturity will cause consolidation.
An entrepreneur explains how the backend beckoned as a business opportunity—and how his startup shook that moneymaker.
Red Hat's Linux dominance doesn't count in the cloud, but that may change soon.
As cloud adoption continues to accelerate, IT is the last to know.
Software integration used to be the customer's headache in the days of on-premise solutions, but the cloud has changed all that.
The reality is that both high-end and low-end hardware businesses may be doomed. So what should IBM do?
Tech titans are hoping the cloud will save their businesses (and profits), but it's more likely to do the opposite.
Revelations about the NSA created a public outcry, but at least it's increased visibility around the issue of data security.
Internet storage gets personal. (Sponsored by WD)
Oracle is fundamentally incapable of competing with Amazon, whatever it may say.
The Linux vendor brings its clone home.
The competition really heats up next year as services expand and prices drop.
Enterprises ascend, spies abound and drones descend. A look back at the the enterprise in 2013.
PayPal wants to build out its mobile technology with StackMob's tools and team.
Dude, you're getting space on the public cloud.
Google wants to leapfrog Amazon's dominance in cloud computing by making it available to everyone.


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Financial Aid and scholarships will not cover all of your study abroad costs. To determine the cost of your study abroad experience, use the Study Abroad Budget Sheet . Subtract your anticipated financial aid from the total amount needed to study abroad to determine how much additional money you will need.
There are many other ways to gather the necessary funds to go abroad. National academic organizations specific to your major, or their local chapters, might have scholarships available. Heritage organizations might have funds available. Find out if your parents' employers offer a matching scholarship. Take odd jobs around campus. Set aside some money from your weekly paycheck specifically for going abroad. Forgo holiday gifts and ask for funds to be used to help you go abroad. Sometimes relatives, especially grandparents, are willing to contribute. Use your imagination to come up with other ways to find funds but most important, SAVE, SAVE, SAVE.


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By Glenn Sulmasy
The decision to move the trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed (KSM) and his four compatriots from a New York City federal courthouse highlights the struggles associated with detaining and trying the al Qaeda fighters. Needless to say, many businessman, the families of the victims of 9/11, Wall Street Executives and realtors in New [...]
Terror Trials No Longer in NYC; Opportunity for U.S. Justice System
By Glenn Sulmasy
Finally! Muslims Stand Up Against Islamic Terrorism
Ibrahim Al Jahim and Majed Moughni hold a sign that says, "Not In The Name Of Islam" outside Federal Courthouse
Totally absent from the nations headlines, with the exception of Fox News, is a startling and unprecedented development in the war on terror. As the panty bomber got his day in court yesterday, the real [...]
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AVON, Ohio — The good news is they have been here before.
The Central Michigan baseball program fell in the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament to No. 1 seed Kent State Wednesday night, 15-8.
A year ago, the Chippewas (25-31) were in a similiar position only to win four games in three days for a trip to the championship game at All-Pro Freight Stadium.
CMU will look to begin that same quest Thursday afternoon versus No. 5 seed Miami at 12:30 in an elimination game.
The Golden Flashes (35-21) struck early and struck often Wednesday night, batting around in each of the first two innings to score four in the first and five in the second.
After Kent took a 4-0 lead through one, sophomore Cody Leichman singled to lead off the second and came around to score on a triple by redshirt freshman and local Avon native Neal Jacobs for the Chippewas' first run of the contest. Jacobs scored on a wild pitch later in the inning to cut the deficit to 4-2.
Unfortunately, the Golden Flashes went right back to work, batting around for the second time in as many innings to chase sophomore Jordan Foley after just 1.1 innings and score five more runs to build their advantage to 9-2.
Senior Jordan Adams continued to show he enjoys hitting at All-Pro Freight Stadium with a solo home run and a pair of RBI hits, finishing 3-for-5 on the night.
Adams' home run came in the top of the sixth to cut the Chippewas' deficit to 12-3, but Kent State's Justin Wagler capped a five RBI day with a two-run home run to left center in the seventh to extend the lead back to 14-3.
A leadoff walk to sophomore Nick Regnier and Adams' RBI double answered the Wagler shot, but a Cody Koch home run in the bottom of the eighth pushed Kent's lead to 15-4.
The Chippewas didn't go down without first putting together a bit of a rally in the top of the ninth.
Junior Noel Santos led off the ninth with hot-shot single up the middle and freshman Morgan Oliver hit his first career home run to left field. A walk to senior Tom Lally and a single by Regnier extended the inning before Adams drove in his third run of the night with a single to left center to bring the game within eight, 15-7.
Leichman roped his fourth hit of the game to left center to drive Regnier in from second, forcing the Golden Flashes to make a pitching change, but it would be as close as the Chippewas would get.


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What is Canine Distemper?
Canine distemper is a highly contagious viral disease that affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory and nervous systems of puppies and dogs. This virus also infects other wild animals such as foxes, raccoons, skunks, wolves, coyotes and ferrets. It is very important that you keep your dogs away from other wildlife to avoid the virus from spreading.


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Preserving and Retarding Spoilage Antioxidants are added to food products to retard spoilage. Mold, air, bacteria and other substances can cause food to spoil. Bacteria can also cause food borne illnesses. Antioxidants prevent fats and oils in food products from becoming rancid and prevent fresh fruits from turning brown when exposed to air.
Improving Nutritional Value Vitamins and minerals are added to food to improve nutritional value. They are added to a variety of products, including milk, flour and cereals to help reduce malnutrition among consumers. Products containing added nutrients must be appropriately labeled.
Increasing Appeal Spices and flavors are added to food to enhance taste, leavening agents are added to make baked goods rise, colors are added to enhance appearance, emulsifiers are added to give products a consistent texture, stabilizers and thickeners are added to produce a smooth and uniform texture, anti-caking agents are added to help substances, such as salt, flow freely rather than stay in one clump and other additives are added to modify acidity and alkalinity of foods.
Additives may be natural or artificial. Natural additives are manufactured from natural sources. Examples of natural additives are lecithin derived from soybeans or corn and food coloring derived from beets. Artificial additives are often used when a natural additive cannot be found or when they are more economical to use.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must approve food additives before they can be used in the United States. The safety of any proposed additive must be investigated before they it is approved.
Food Colors Food colors are dyes that impart color to food products. In the US, color additives are classified as certifiable or exempt from certification. Certifiable colors are manmade. They are tested by both the manufacturer and the FDA before they are approved or certified for use. There are nine certified colors approved for use in the US, including FD&C Yellow No.6.
Color additives that are exempt from certification are derived from natural sources such as vegetables, minerals or animals, and man-made counterparts of natural derivatives. They include caramel color, which is used in sauces, soft drinks, baked goods and other foods. These too are tested before approval for use is granted.
Certifiable color additives are used widely because their coloring ability is greater than most colors derived from natural products. This enables food producers to use smaller quantities, which is more economic. In addition, certifiable color additives are more stable, provide better color uniformity and blend together easily to provide a wide range of hues. Certifiable color additives generally do not impart undesirable flavors to foods, while color derived from foods such as beets and cranberries can produce such unintended effects.
Certifiable color additives are available for use in water-soluble form, oil-soluble form, as powders, granules, liquids or other special purpose forms. They are used in a wide variety of products including beverages, dry mixes, baked goods, confections, dairy products, coated tablets, hard candies and chewing gums.
The flexibility of using additives makes it easier to produce food products with long shelf life, appealing taste and color and with high nutritious value. It also poses a challenge for Muslims since the processes used to produce the additives and the sources of the additives may introduce haram ingredients into an otherwise Halal product. For those with allergies, the use of additives may pose additional concerns, since they are present in small quantities and may not be listed very descriptively.
(Extracted from an FDA/IFIS January 1992 brochure on Food Additives.)
Dr. Jaafar Al-Quaderi, IFANCAís Religious Advisor, discussed the food of Ahlul Kitab. This issue has confused many Muslims and caused them anxiety whenever they eat out or visit non-Muslim friends. Dr. Al-Quaderi explained that the term Ahlul Kitab applies to the Christians and Jews. He then explained the meaning of the ayat in the Quran, permitting the food (meat) of Ahlul Kitab and also requiring Muslims to eat of food (meats) slaughtered while reciting the name of ALLAH. We have published an article by Dr. Al-Quaderi on this topic in the last issue of Halal consumer, but he briefly explained that Muslims are obligated to eat Halal, which when referring to meat, requires Tasmiyyah at the time of slaughter. Since Ahlul Kitab do not perform Tasmiyyah and especially since the meat in the supermarkets is commercially produced without Tasmiyyah, it is not permitted for Muslims to consume this meat.
The Ahadith relating to this subject indicate Muslims sometimes received gifts of meat and understanding the conditions of the times indicates this meat came from domesticated Halal animals slaughtered by their owners, probably with Tasmiyyah, and presented to their friends and neighbors. Currently, the owner of the animals does not slaughter the meat in the supermarkets. Rather, it is slaughter by an employee of unknown beliefs, without Tasmiyyah, and is sold to marketers who sell it to the public with one or more intermediaries. This does not qualify as the Ahlul Kitab meat that was accepted by the Sahaba.
Dr. Muhammad M. Chaudry then conducted a workshop on food in general and Halal food requirements. He discussed the issues shopperís face when they visit the supermarket, reviewed the information on food labels and distributed typical food labels from locally available products to the attendees. In teams, they discussed the labels and presented their opinion of the acceptability of those products for Muslims consumption. The products contained many ingredients, including gelatin, mono and di-glycerides, natural and artificial flavors, whey, etc. some products were Halal certified and others were not. Then Dr. Chaudry discussed the products and explained why products containing gelatin, mono and di-glycerides, whey and flavors are questionable because the source of the ingredient may come from pigs or non-Halal slaughtered animals. The attendees were very attentive and enthusiastic in participating in a practical application of Halal food laws. IFANCA distributed Shopperís Guides to help consumers identify haram and questionable ingredients. The workshop ended with attendees enjoying some of the IFANCA certified Halal products. It was an enjoyable learning experience for all!
On behalf of the organizers, Maryam Suluki, thanked IFANCA and all the participants of the Conference.
IFANCA® to Speak in Halal Food Service Webinar Organized by Muslims in Dietetics and Nutrition (MIDAN)
Check out Spring 2014 Halal Consumer© magazine, a publication of the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America
Check out the April 2014 Halal Digest© ...


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DescriptionWXIX FOX19 Local News delivers the latest news, sports, interactive weather radar and video directly to your mobile device. Stay connected no matter where you go with comprehensive coverage for Cincinnati and the Tri State area (Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana). When news and weather breaks the WXIX news app is your "all access pass" to the latest stories. Other features include:
- Local, Regional and National coverage.
- Real-time breaking news alerts so you can follow stories as they happen.
- Deep weather forecast information.
- Contribute your stories, images and video to WXIX by uploading directly from your mobile device.
- Side menu tray navigation for quick access to the news you need.
- Live Streaming support on 4.x devices (Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean)
- Universal app for phone and tablet devices (tablets include multi-pane reading).
Fox affiliate also serving Warren, Butler, Clermont, Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties.


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The next generation of Mush sandals carry on the tradition of the Original Mush sandals. Slip into a pair of Teva women's Mush II sandals and notice the difference. You will be transported to a place where the only thing that matters is comfort... Lots and lots of comfort.
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Womens Mush II
Price: £20.00
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Fit: Only available in full sizes (please go down to the nearest full size if you take a half size).


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brikguy is a pretty cool guy, eh? Posts weird threads and doesn't afraid of anything!!
jifel wrote:"Any fool can make something bigger and more dangerous, but it takes an intelligent man to do the opposite."
As if we care. More explosives!
Ogel96 wrote:Clap. Clap. Clap.
Finally someone gets it. It's writing/words/that general sort of thing.
Silverdream wrote:MOST UNLIKED BY SILVERDREAM
-Vami IV
WINNER: Nitewatchman
BFenix wrote:pesgores wrote:Poetry sucks. It's for pussies.
Awesome quotes, however, aren't.
Dude, how can you say that?
Didnt High School teach you nothing? Camões?
pesgores wrote:
I hate Camões
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Friday, May 28, 2010
Take another look - Artest wins game 5
Here's the game winner by Artest...
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|Spencer Nousain
Courtesy: CMU Athletic Communications
Release: 10/07/2013
2014 (Outdoor Track and Field): Finished second in the 5000m run (14:51.23) at the Lenny Lyles-Clark Wood Invitational (3/29) ... placed thirteenth in the 5000m run with a mark of 14:43.22 at the Bison Outdoor Classic (4/13).
2014 (Indoor Track and Field): Placed third in the one mile run (4:21.75) at the CMU Jack Skoog Open (1/17) ... finished second in the 5000m run (14:47.54) at the Gladstein Invitational (1/24) ... finished fourth in the 3000m run (8:34.57) at the EMU Triangular-Quad (2/1) ... placed ninth in the 3000m run with a mark of 8:28.87 at the GVSU Big Meet (2/14) ... placed fifth in the 5000m run (14:37.65) at the MAC Indoor Championships (2/28).
2013 (Cross Country): First team All-MAC ... finished second overall at the Jeff Drenth Memorial Race 5k in 15:57 (8/30) ... crossed the finish line in an 8k career best 25:01 at the Spartan Invitational 6k placing sixth (9/13) ... top-100 finisher, taking 93rd with a 25:46 at the Roy Griak Invitational 8k (9/28) ... placed 11th at the Notre Dame Invitational five-mile finishing in 25:53 (10/4) ... finished as the third best CMU male runner at the Indiana State Pre-National 8k Race with a time of 25:20 (10/19) ... finished in seventh (25:14) at the 8K MAC Tournament (11/2) ... finished as the third best CMU male runner at the Regional Meet with a time of 32:26 (11/14).
High School: Won the 3200m run at the 2010 MHSAA Division 4 Track and Field State Finals, and finished 6th in the 1600m run ... was the state champion at the 2011 MHSAA Division 4 Cross Country State Championships, and was a four-time qualifier ... finished runner-up in the 2012 MHSAA Division 4 Track and Field State Finals in the 3200m run ... finished runner-up at the 2009 and 2010 MHSAA Division 4 Cross Country State Championships, and finished 14th as a freshman in 2008 ... finished 6th in the 1600m run and 3200m run at the 2009 MHSAA Division 4 Track and Field State Finals ... was the county champion in the 3200m run in 2010 ... maintains a 3.4 GPA.
Career Bests: Cross Country 5k (15:57); Cross Country 8k (25:01); 5000m (14:43.22)


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- 4/14/14 /
- Comment
Rosemary's Baby Trailer: High-Risk Pregnancy
Zoe Saldana looks sad.
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Zoe Saldana looks sad.
For the franchise's next three sequels.
Sadly, the version is set in Paris, not future-space.
He'll direct and star in Kill the Trumpet Player.
To play Gamora.
Plagiarism's all the rage-arism in this Bradley Cooper film.
Lots of of Katy Perry–Rihanna slash fic in here.
In Cynthia Mort's Nina.
B-Coop stumbles upon a pivotal manuscript.
Writing is very exciting.
They'll be heist partners in Swindle.
Smells like Oscar-bait in so many different ways.
From the cast of Moneyball to Glee, check out last night's Red Carpet at the SAG Awards.
"I want to be a Bene Gesserit so bad."
Everyone from J.Lo to Gwyneth.
Glossy magazine portraits of Emma Stone by the beach, Ken Jeong with a giant foam wang, and Sarah Jessica Parker in her natural habitat.
Luc Besson's Jumping Frog Action Factory strikes out.
Plus: Zoe Saldana feels up Chelsea Handler's boobs, and more, on our daily late-night roundup.
Plus: Zoe Saldana couldn't find Jimmy Kimmel's studio, and more, on our daily late-night roundup.
We're also hearing rumblings that she's clearing her schedule for another 'Star Trek' right after this marital drama.
The year of the sexy action heroine continues.
Just a bar filled with morons.
Plus: Lea Michele will give up sleep to play Fanny Brice.
Learn better insults, everyone!
Plus: Fox and Disney announce competing versions of '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.'


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A look at Lone Pine in California's Eastern Sierra
Visitors can relive the heyday of western filmmaking at Lone Pine, which since the 1920s has been drawing film and television crews to its rustic locale.
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